RY X
{{short description|Australian musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = RY X
| image = Ry X (ZMF 2017) jm43416.jpg
| caption = RY X performing in 2017
| birth_name = Ry Cuming
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|05|06}}
| birth_place = Woodford Island, Australia
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| genre = {{hlist|Alt-pop|indietronica|indie folk}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|musician|songwriter|record producer}}
| years_active = 2006–present
| label = {{hlist|Jive Records|Dumont Dumont|Infectious Music UK}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|The Acid|Charlie Cunningham|Howling}}
| website = {{URL|ry-x.com}}
}}
Ry Cuming (born 6 May 1988), better known by his stage name RY X, is an Australian singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer.{{cite news|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/08/20/maroon-5-tour-photos/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821145654/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/08/20/maroon-5-tour-photos/|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 August 2010|title=Maroon 5 Tourmate Ry Cuming Shares Portraits of Life on the Road|last=Cantiello|first=Jim|date=20 August 2010|work=MTV|accessdate=16 September 2010}} He was the first artist signed to the Stockholm-based label Dumont Dumont.[http://thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/ry-x-announces-london-show-for-december-140884 The Line of Best Fit.com RY X announces London show for December 2013][http://www.dumontdumont.com/RY-X DumontDumont: RY X page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707034510/http://www.dumontdumont.com/RY-X |date=7 July 2014 }}
Early life
Ry Cuming[http://www.meltfestival.de/en/acts/artists-a-z/act/ry-frank-wiedemann.html Ry X Frank Wiedemann present The Howling] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210181429/http://www.meltfestival.de/en/acts/artists-a-z/act/ry-frank-wiedemann.html |date=10 December 2013 }} was born on 6 May 1988 on Woodford Island, where he became a surfer.{{cite news | url=https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/australia/articles/ry-x-im-just-trying-to-love-everyone-i-meet-a-lot/ | title=Ry X: 'I'm Just Trying To Love Everyone I Meet A Lot' | first=Ann | last=Lee | work=The Culture Trip | date=13 March 2018}} He now resides in California.{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Poppy |date=2022-06-17 |title=RY X: "Music And Dance Are The Two Most Powerful Art Forms" |url=https://www.rollingstone.fr/hebdo/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Rolling Stone Australia |language=en-AU}}
Career
Cuming has cited Pearl Jam and Jeff Buckley as his greatest influences,{{Cite web |last=Kerr |first=Scott |title=RY X Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ry-x-mn0003194482/biography |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} and started writing music at the age of 16 after hearing Buckley's 1994 album Grace. His song "Let Your Spirit Fly" appeared on the soundtrack of the 2006 film Hoot. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he was signed by Jive Records, releasing his self-titled debut album on 20 July 2010.{{cite news|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1826788|pure_url=yes}}|title=Ry Cuming (album)|date=20 July 2010|work=Allmusic|accessdate=16 September 2010}} He briefly toured with Maroon 5, becoming their opening act in select venues.
Cuming won the 2010 Dolphin Awards for "Best Pop Song" and "Best New Artist".{{cite news|url=http://www.y93.fm/new2/featured/f/2515|title=KYYY: RY Cuming|work=92.9 FM – Y-93|accessdate=16 September 2010}} In 2012, he collaborated with Frank Wiedemann to release "Howling" on the German record label Innervisions, including a remix by Âme. His EP Berlin, released on 28 August 2013,[http://nordicwaves.net/ry-x-berlin Nordic Waves: RY X – Berlin] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211054649/http://nordicwaves.net/ry-x-berlin |date=11 December 2013 }} was made available as 12" vinyl and digital. The title track charted in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The track also caught the attention of singer Sam Smith, who covered it.{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2014/01/listen-sam-smith-covers-ry-xs-berlin/|title=Listen: Sam Smith covers RY X's "Berlin"|website=Consequence of Sound|date=10 January 2014 |language=en-US| access-date = 2016-02-29}}
In 2014, Cuming became the lead singer of the band The Acid, which he formed with Los Angeles producer Freeland and Steve Nalepa. They released an album titled Liminal.{{Cite web|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=24829|title=Adam Freeland, RY X and Steve Nalepa are The Acid|website=Resident Advisor|access-date=2016-06-30}} Together with Wiedemann he formed the band Howling and released a full length album Sacred Ground on Ninja Tune and Monkeytown Records. Cuming's single "Howling" was featured in the movie Everything, Everything. The remix by Âme was featured in the movie Taken 3.
In May 2016, Cuming released his second album Dawn through Infectious Records and Loma Vista Records.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/05/arts/music/ry-x-dawn.html|title=Review: RY X Stretches Pop Structures on 'Dawn'|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=2016-05-04|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-06-30}} The album charted at #34 in the UK Album Charts as well as charting in Germany, France, Canada, and Australia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/uk/artists/music/ry-x/albums/dawn/|title=iTunesCharts.net: 'Dawn' by RY X (British Albums iTunes Chart)|website=www.itunescharts.net|access-date=2016-06-30}} It gained favourable reception from the media, with a New York Times review saying, "His voice is a pearly, androgynous tenor, a vessel for liquid melancholy that blurs words at the edges. He stretches pop structures with repetition that grows devotional, obsessive, hypnotic." In support of the album, he began an extensive tour across Europe and the U.S. as well as appearing at many festivals throughout 2016, such as Barn on the Farm and the Montreux Jazz Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.songkick.com/artists/6888059-ry-x|title=Ry X|website=Songkick|access-date=2016-06-30}}
In October 2018, Cuming confirmed that his third studio album, Unfurl, would be released in February 2019 via Infectious Music. The album announcement coincided with the release of a new single, "Untold", and the announcement of a global tour beginning in Europe that commenced the same month.
“Cuming has previously appeared on tracks by Diplo, ODESZA, Duke Dumont, and Black Coffee, and was commissioned to remix Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain”.”{{Cite web |last=Bowmer |first=Sam |date=2022-06-30 |title=RY X on His New Album ‘Blood Moon’ and Collaborating with Drake |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/ry-x-interview/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Tone Deaf |language=en-AU}}
Blood Moon, Cuming's fourth album, was released in June 2022 via BMG.{{Cite web |last=Interviews |first=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & |date=2022-06-20 |title=Ry X - Blood Moon |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/ry-x-blood-moon/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}} The album was recorded, produced and engineered almost entirely by Cuming himself at his home studio in Topanga.{{Cite web |title=RY X • Red Light Management |url=https://www.redlightmanagement.com/artists/ry-x/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Red Light Management}} Blood Moon was released on the same day as Drake's album Honestly, Nevermind. "It was a dual celebration for RY X, who co-wrote and co-produced the Honestly, Nevermind track “Sticky”.” Blood Moon features collaborator Ólafur Arnalds on the track, 'Colorblind'.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Notion |date=2022-05-20 |title=RY X: "There Was A Lot of Space In My Youth" |url=https://notion.online/ry-x-there-was-a-lot-of-space-in-my-youth/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Notion |language=en-GB}} The project also took Cuming to Iceland to collaborate with Imre and Marne Van Opstal and nature photographer Benjamin Hardman for the official videos of 'Your Love' and 'Come Back'.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-21 |title=Imre & Marne van Opstal – Ry X – Blood Moon |url=https://imremarnevanopstal.com/ry-x-album-visuals/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=imremarnevanopstal.com |language=en-GB}} Bloom Moon Remixes was released the following year, in June 2023.{{Cite web |title=RY X - Blood Moon |url=https://www.traxsource.com/title/2034718/blood-moon |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.traxsource.com}}
Moths was released in September 2023 with its debut on Youtube with the official video, shot in the Sahara desert.{{Cite web |title=RY X Teams Up With Pegasus Distillerie for New Music Video for "Moths (Night Odyssey)" |url=https://www.pmstudio.com/music/20230905-20776 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=pm studio world wide news |language=ja}}
Live Performances
Cuming, performing as RY X, has played non-traditional venues throughout his career, including a Cercle livestreamed show from Brazil's Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.{{Cite web |last=Lugen |first=Mikala |date=2022-09-16 |title="Easily the Hardest Show We've Ever Pulled Off": Watch RY X's Mesmerizing Cercle Performance |url=https://edm.com/news/ry-x-mesmerizing-cercle-performance |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists |language=en}} In 2021, Cuming performed a livestream show produced by Driift from Vibiana Cathedral.{{Cite web |title=Vibiana {{!}} Vibiana DTLA Performance from Ry X |url=https://www.vibiana.com/stories/ry-x-performance |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.vibiana.com}} In September 2023, Cuming performed at London's St. Paul's Cathedral with the London Contemporary Orchestra.{{Cite web |title=fabric announce immersive event at St Paul's Cathedral with RY X |url=https://mixmag.net/read/fabric-st-pauls-cathedral-london-love-hertz-ryx-london-contemporary-news |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Mixmag}} It was said that this show sold out so quickly, the waitlist consisted of over 4000 people.{{Cite web |last=Dolan |first=Leah |date=2023-09-15 |title=This 350-year-old London landmark just hosted its first techno night |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/st-pauls-cathedral-concert/index.html |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=CNN |language=en}}
= Orchestral Shows =
Discography
=Albums=
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Details ! scope="col"| Certification |
|---|
| scope="row"| Berlin
|
| |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" | ||||
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="5"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/ry%20x/|title=UK Charts > RY X|publisher=Official Charts Company}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| BEL ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| BEL ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| FRA ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| GER | ||||
| 2013
! scope="row"| "Berlin" | 38 | — | 42* | 15 | 46
| Berlin EP |
| 2014
! scope="row"| "Love Like This" | — | — | — | — | —
| {{non-album single}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
! scope="row"| "Sweat (Dusk Sessions)" | — | — | — | — | —
| Dawn |
| scope="row"| "Howling"
| — || — || — || — || — | Dawn | ||||
| 2017
! scope="row"| "Bad Love" | — | — | — | — | —
| {{non-album single}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
! scope="row"| "Untold" | — | 9* | — | — | —
| rowspan="2"| Unfurl |
| scope="row"| "YaYaYa"
| — || 19* || — || — || — | ||||
| 2019
! scope="row"| "Thunder" | — | — | — | — | —
| {{non-album single}} |
*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts.
Awards & Accolades
= Grammy Awards =
As the only peer-recognized music award, the GRAMMY is the music industry’s highest honor{{Cite web |title=We are the official site of the GRAMMY Awards, Music's Biggest Night {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=www.grammy.com}}
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Category !Nominee/Work !Result !Ref |
| 2016
|Best Remixed Recording |Only (Kaskade x Lipless Remix) |Nominee |
= Australian Music Prize =
The Australian Music Prize has provided a mouthpiece to the best albums in Australian contemporary music. Now in its 19th year, the prize is widely recognised as the most prestigious award for Australian recording artists {{Cite web |title=The Soundmerch Australian Music Prize |url=https://www.australianmusicprize.com.au/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=The Soundmerch Australian Music Prize |language=en-US}}
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Category !Nominee/Work !Result !Ref |
| 2022
|Best albums of 2022 by Australian artists |Blood Moon |Nominee |
= Music Week Awards =
The Music Week Awards are the UK's only music awards that recognise labels, publishing, live, retail, A&R, radio, marketing and PR - all parts of this industry we love.{{Cite web |title=Music Week Awards 2024 |url=https://www.musicweekawards.com/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=www.musicweekawards.com |language=en-AG}}
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Category !Nominee/Work !Result !Ref |
| 2021
|Sync of the Year |Berlin - Normal People |Nominee |
= Dolphin Awards =
The NCEIA Dolphin Music Awards are an annual iconic local music event, organised by the North Coast Entertainment Industry Association (NCEIA).{{Cite web |title=NCEIA Dolphin Music Awards About - Mission Statement |url=https://nceia.org.au/about/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=NCEIA |language=en-AU}}
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Category !Nominee/Work !Result !Ref |
| 2013
|Best Pop Song |Berlin |Winner |
| 2013
|Best New Artist |RY X |Winner |
=Other appearances=
- "Destiny" For You - EP (King Henry, 2017)
References
{{Commons category}}
{{clear}}
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|www.ry-x.com}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Australian guitarists
Category:Infectious Music artists